Making a product foolproof is hard is hard, as irrational actions are often the proof of a fool..

The challenges of designing and building a truly foolproof product stem from the unpredictability of human behavior. Because fools - or rather, people who behave in irrational or unexpected ways - are incredibly creative and resourceful. Fools can find ways to break or misuse a product that even the most experienced designers and engineers cannot anticipate. 

Fools are, in fact, the ultimate usability testers, pushing your products to their limits and beyond. They are like creative geniuses trying to outsmart and prove your new product wrong. It is as if the fool is providing a kind of “proof” that the product is not as foolproof as we thought. A reminder that only a fool can anticipate every possible scenario, and that someone will eventually find a way to do something we did not expect.

So, who do you use to test your products? People in the lab, experienced users, or “fools” (people using your products in unexpected ways)?

Hopefully, you are using a little bit of all three. Remember, even “fools” are geniuses in their own way, adding valuable wisdom to make your products truly foolproof. 

Per Lindstedt

Making a product foolproof is hard, as irrational actions are often the proof of a fool.

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